Vintage Synth Explorer

Akai • S-900

The S-900 sampler was Akai's first truly professional sampler, released in 1986. Its sampling specifications were pro-quality at the time: 12-bit stereo sampling, 7.5kHz to 40kHz variable sampling rates and a maximum of 63 seconds of sample time at 7.5kHz. Up to 32 samples can be created and stored to disk along with any edit settings. This was one of the first rack-mount samplers to use a built-in disk drive. Although the drive could load sounds while you play, it was still a very slow process.

Editing and programming the S-900 is a very good precursor to the advanced S-3000 series. There are lots of advanced edit capabilities for looping, truncating, velocity crossfading, tuning and even analog-like parameters to control. Individual outputs for each of the eight voices, stereo mix out, stereo input, MIDI and trigger inputs round out this machine as a professional vintage-status sampler that still proves to be very useful even for today's musicians!

The S-950 soon followed the S-900 and offered increased memory and sampling rates. The sample rate was now variable from 7.5 to 48kHz and it could hold up to 99 samples in memory. Memory could be expanded from 750KB to 2.25MB. The S-950 is used by Fatboy Slim, Moby, Skinny Puppy, Depeche Mode, Future Sound of London, Sneaker Pimps, The Bomb Squad, Dr. Dre, DJ Premiere, Prince Paul, Vangelis, Digable Planets and A Guy Called Gerald.

VISITOR COMMENTS

Comments page 2 of 5

Click here to add a comment

Your Name:

Email Address:

Image verification:

Message:

Posting Rules: Please keep your comments relevant! Do not post requests for help, do not use for sales, do not post unless you have something interesting to say about this instrument, or we may delete your post.

 

cevasco

Posted 373 days ago

12 bit = rullante hiphop sonorità tipicamente rap anni '90.
davvero divertente, anche se ci vuole un po' per imparare a programmarlo a dovere e se difficilmente si riesce ad interfacciarlo con i pc d'oggi...meglio con mac
qualcuno lo usa anche solo per utilizzarlo come effetto facendoci passare attraverso il basso od altro....

Anoop Sahal

Posted 382 days ago

My S-900 will not load samples whilst playing loaded samples. Which update allows this function?

Dan Wilson

Posted 388 days ago

The AKAI 950 has a lovely punchy, crunchy sound and lightening fast MIDI response making it perfect for Hip Hop - this is due 12 bit sampling and completely discrete output stages (there is a ton of electronics in this thing!) - Don't believe me then try firing hats on 32's at this thing and then observe how sloppy the equivalent sequence is on a much newer AKAI or just about any E-mu sampler. The EMAX II, for example, is one of the most forgiving samplers I've ever used in terms of audio - it sounds lovely - BUT - it has really sloppy MIDI timing which means it's brilliant for huge pads and useless for hip hop - quite unlike the S950. The S900 is similar but rather curiously can suffer from poor sub bass response.

One warning - this unit can suffer from nasty clicking sounds due to note stealing. Through careful sample configuration this can be overcome.

Dan, Hideaway Studio.

Frayo

Posted 422 days ago

In your studio, this is the big white box with the big red button on it that says "Old-Skool-ify" (figuratively speaking). I use the S-900 still because it's much easier and faster to sample than the Emax. It's just a 12 bit sampler. It has the usual reverse, splice, truncate, etc. It also has multiple sampling rates, and a resample at lower frequency option that takes your sample and crunchifies it. Grab the Akai AX series to put on some analog filtering (15pin cable needed). The AX-60 has slider control, making it easy to use.

Dj G.T.Sound

Posted 431 days ago

I've got the s950 and it is one of the best samplers for drums or basses. And it's cheap!!!

<54321>